Apparatus for covering a glass sheet with paper

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for covering a glass sheet with one or more paper sheets is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of feed sections each having at least a primary and a secondary roll of paper sheet, a storage magazine for storing a prescribed lineal footage of paper sheet from each feed section, carriage means for pulling a length of paper sheet from the storage magazine, while simultaneously resupplying the same, across a glass sheet and cutting a required length of paper sheet for deposit on the glass sheet. The feed sections are constructed to accommodate rolls of sheet material of varying widths so that a single sheet may be deposited or a plurality of paper sheets may be deposited for covering the glass sheet, the paper sheet residing in either abutting or overlapping relation.

United States Patent 1 1 Alverson APPARATUS FOR COVERING A GLASS SHEET WITH PAPER [75] Inventor: Robert F. Alverson, Kingsport,

Tenn.

[73] Assignee: ASG Industries, Inc., Kingsport,

Tenn.

[22] Filed: Feb. 25, 1974 21 Appl. N01: 445,072

[52] [1.8. CI 226/110, 226/113, 226/119 [51] Int. Cl B65h 17/42 [58] Field of Search 226/109, 110, 92, 113,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,253,076 8/1941 Jones 226/109 X 2,389,834 11/1945 Wyrick 226/109 X 11 3,865,296 [451 Feb. 11,1975

Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Pennie & Edmonds [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for covering a glass sheet with one or more paper sheets is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of feed'sections each having at least a primary and a secondary roll of paper sheet, a storage magazine for storing a prescribed lineal footage of paper sheet from each feed section, carriage means for pulling a length of paper sheet from the storage magazine, while simultaneously resupplying the same, across a glass sheet and cutting a required length of paper sheet for deposit on the glass sheet. The feed sections are constructed to accommodate rolls of sheet material of varying widths so that a single sheet may be deposited or a plurality ofpaper sheets may be deposited for covering the glass sheet, the paper sheet residing in either abutting or overlapping relation.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEH! 1192s v SHEET 2 OF 4 AT m vOm mom PATENTED FEBI 1 I975 SHEET 3 UF 4 APPARATUS FOR COVERING A GLASS SHEET WITH PAPER The present invention relates to apparatus for pulling sheet material from one or more supply rolls and utilizing as many segments of sheet material as is required to completely cover the surface of a glass plate. The speed of the covering process will be consistent with the cycle of operation whereby glass plates are presented at a station by separate conveying means for covering. Preferably, the sheet material is moved in a horizontal path over the glass plate for deposit on the same. A prescribed length of sheet material is cut and deposited on the glass sheet by gravity. The covering process is continuous. The process and apparatus is particularly applicable to the use of paper sheet as a covering medium and the description will be directed to such material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior machines which are presently in use to cover glass sheets of varying width with paper suffer because of various deficiencies. One deficiency is in connection with the speed of operation of the machine. For example, known machines are found capable of covering sheets of glass of varying width arriving at a covering station at a frequency of about one glass sheet per minute. This deficiency results from the relatively slow speed at which the paper may be pulled directly from the roll and still have control over stopping of the rotation of the roll. If the paper is pulled sufficiently fast from the roll to allow papering of four sheets of glass per minute, the speed of rotation of the roll becomes such that the paper continues to unwind from the roll after it is desired to stop the paper on the glass. The paper then has too much slack and tears when the pulling carriage again starts to pull paper across the next sheet of glass. It is then necessary to stop the machine and rethread the paper, resulting in excessive delays in the papering process. Another deficiency results from the heretofore required stoppage of the independent flow of glass sheets on its conveying system for a sufficient time interval to permit change of rolls of sheet paper to cover a glass sheet having a width greater than the width of the roll of material then in use or to eliminate certain rolls which then will not be used because the glass sheet has a width less than the width of the aggregate roll widths. The prior art machines are not capable of depositing selectively multiple sheets of paper on glass sheet for purposes of covering the same.

BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a machine for covering glass sheets with paper having increased speed capability and universality to cover sheets of glass of varying widths and varying lengths with paper from one or more selected rolls. The machine through incorporation ofa storage magazine which additionally maintains constant tension conditions in the paper'sheet being drawn during covering demonstrates increased efficiency of operation.

According to one aspect, the present invention provides a plurality of feed sections for disposition ofa plurality of rolls of paper sheet, the total width of the sheets in top plan view being equal to the width ofa bed onto which glass sheets are conveyed. The individual feed sections are disposed at different heights and preferably alternate feed sections accommodate paper sheet rolls of greater width to permit overlapping coverage of the glass sheet, if desired. The choice of roll size may be such to provide coverage of the glass sheet by abutting paper sheet strips. By proper choice or selection of roll width and placement of rolls on the machine it is possible to make up any total width of paper sheet desired.

As a further aspect, the present invention envisions that each feed section include at least a secondary reserve paper sheet roll whose leading end may be attached to the trailing end of an exhausted roll thereby to obviate rethreading ofthe machine and permit a new placement roll of paper sheet to be received.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a storage magazine into which the paper sheet initially may be threaded for storage. The storage magazine is formed by a floating assembly carrying a plurality of rollers which intercooperate with fixed rollers to carry a prescribed length of paper sheet in generally a sinusoidal pattern. The storage magazine receives the leading end of the paper shhet while in one disposition and moves toward a floating disposition after the leading end is gripped by index means carried by the machine. The index means and the floating assembly cooperate to maintain the paper sheet in a condition of constant tension.

As an additional aspect, the present invention provides a more positive carriage clamping device to prevent slippage of paper sheet during pulling across a bed and glass sheet. The clamping device includes a gripping arrangement including an upper and lower pivotal which intercooperate in the closed position through a tongue and groove. To prevent rupture of the paper the jaws are formed of a deformable material.

There has thus been outlined rather broadly the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the are will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may be readily utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of the invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings form a part of the present application. By these drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating diagrammatically a plurality of feed and paper storage sections, and a drawing mechanism for feeding paper from each section;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation illustrating diagrammatically in the lower position a storage assembly upon which paper from one of the feed sections of FIG. I is threaded;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the upper storage assembly for receipt of paper from another feed section with the storage assembly in the upper feeding position;

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation of an indexing mechanism for use in the drawing operation;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section as seen along the lines 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section of the stop gate, carriage and gripper jaws of the feed structure; and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the paper feed sections, the storage magazine and bed onto which the paper, out length, is fed for covering glass sheets' DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The machine 10 for covering a glass sheet with a single sheet or multiple sheets of paper, abutting one another or overlapping one another along their lengths may be seen to best advantage in FIGS. 1 and 7. The paper thereafter may serve as interleaving between stacked sheets of glass. Thus, hereinafter, the operation will bedenominated interleaving.

The machine includes a plurality of feed sections 12, l4, l6 and 18, each including a primary roll P and a secondary roll S. In the FIG. 1 illustration, the primary roll of each section is disposed below the secondary roll. Such location of the rolls is merely for the convenience of description since as the process of interleaving sheets of paper upon sections of glass continues uninterrupted, the rolls will be used seriatim while a new roll is mounted in a feed section as a replacement for the then expended roll. The rolls in each section may vary in width from the narrowest available up to and including rolls of about 46 inches in width. The roll supports in each of the sections 14 and 18may accommodate rolls of paper sheet of a size to overlap the paper sheet fed from adjacent rolls, if desired. Thus, the feed section 14 rolls, including the primary and secondary rolls, overlap feed section 12 and 16 rolls; whereas the primary and secondary rolls of feed section 18 overlap the feed section 16 rolls.

Rolls of equal width may be used in each feed section. also. 7

The machine is capable of interleaving one or more sheets of paper upon a glass plate which may vary from about 34 inches to about 136 inches in width, and from about 60 inches to about 120 inches in length. The width of roll paper sheet which will be used and the number of feed sections to be employed in an operation will be governed by the width of the glass sheet to be covered and the desired manner of covering, i.e., with abutting or overlapping paper sheets sections.

For example, if it is desired to cover a sheet of glass having a width of 56 inches, paper sheet will be drawn upon command from feed sections 12 and 14. The other feed sections will remain idle. Rolls of paper sheet having equal width to provide abutting covering may be used. Rolls of paper sheet of unequal width may be used, also. To this end, any combination wherein one paper sheet is 46 inches in width may be used, limited, however, by the constraint that if more than one feed section is used for covering a sheet of glass the roll of paper sheet in feed section 12 must be no narrower than 28 inches in width. By proper selection of paper sheet roll width and proper placement of the roll within each feed section it is possible to make up any total width of paper sheet for covering, as desired.

Rolls carrying any lineal length of paper sheet as may be received on the machine may be used.

The machine also includes a plurality of storage magazines 20 and 22 for paper serving feed sections 12 and 14 respectively. Each of these storage magazines accepts a feed of paper sheet from either the primary or secondary roll of each feed section. Similar storage magazines (not shown) are provided for each of feed sections 16 and 18. The latter storage magazines operate in a fashion like that of the operation of the storage magazines 20 and 22.

Generally, the storage magazines function to feed paper sheet from the rolls in the feed section to a carriage mechanism which is actuated to grip the leading edge of the paper from the rolls and then to pull the same across a bed 30 for covering of a glass sheet 32. This operation, with the machine in an automatic mode, will be carried out upon sensing'the presence of a glass sheet on the bed. Suitable conveyor means is employed to move the glass sheet to the bed for covering and from the bed after having been covered.

The operative components and the bed of the machine may besupported by any particular frame struc ture as may be seen from FIGS. 1 and 7.

The storage magazine 20 and feeding apparatus for feed sections 12 and 16 may be seen to best advantage in FIG. 2. The primary and secondary rolls are shown in outline and the feed is illustrated as deriving from the primary roll. The storage magazine is illustrated in the raised position for initial feeding of the leading edge of paper sheet 40.

The storage magazine includes a floating roller as sembly 50 including a plurality of floating idler rollers, 52, 54, and 56 and a plurality of fixed idler rollers 58 and 60. The assembly also includes a support 62 of T- shaped construction carrying a plurality of guide elements 64, 66, and 68 on the upper face. The guide elements are spaced apart in disposition below each of the floating idler rollers 52, 54, and 56. The guide elements preferably will lie in a plane including the upper surface of fixed idler rollers 58 and 60 thereby to provide a flat substantially uninterrupted surface over which the paper. sheet leading edge may be fed.

. The leading edge of the paper sheet initially may be manually pushed or automatically moved toward the floating roller assembly. A member 70 provides a sur-. face for supporting the sheet in movement. The feed assembly continues automatically the feeding operation. The feed assembly includes a feed roller 72 and -a pinch roller 74 capable of being positioned upon command in driving engagement with the feed roller. To this end, a clamp member 76 is connected by any suitable means to the pinch roller mounting structure for movement of the latter into driven engagement with roller 72. As illustrated, the rollers are mounted one above the other'at the end of the supporting surface 70. The clamp member may be, for example, a cylinder or solenoid having the piston shaft or armature connected to the mounting structure. Pneumatic logic systems may also be employed. The feed roller is driven to provide a constant rate of feed of paper sheet through the floating roller assembly 50. For purposes of drive of the paper sheet the drive roll preferably is coated; whereas the pinch roll is uncoated. The coating may be of rubber or other deformable or compressible material for friction feed. When the leading edge of paper sheet arrives at and is frictionally picked-up in the nip of the rollers of assembly 78 the floating roller assembly 50, under signal, moves toward the FIG. 1 disposition.

Thus, support 62 and the floating idler rollers 52, 64, and 56 carried thereby move downwardly under control of the counter balance cable 80 entrained about rollers 82 and 84. The paper sheet thereupon will become entrained by the floating idler rollers as they move downwardly past the fixed idler rollers 58 and 60. Movement of the floating assembly accompanied by feeding of the paper sheet will continue until approximately lineal feet of paper sheet resides in the storage magazine. The paper sheet will be stored under constant condition of tension during drawing of the same across the bed and glass sheet by means of intercooperating drive and driven rollers 72 and 74, as well as like rollers defining feed mechanism 78.

The structure and operation of the auxiliary feed mechanism 78 generally duplicates that of the assembly including rollers 72 and 74. To this end, the mechanism includes a coated index roller 90, an u ncoated pinch roller 92 and a clamp member 94 for moving the latter into driven engagement with the former. The indexing structure and operation will be described in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5.

Feeding of paper sheet from the secondary roll will be carried out in the same manner. Since the secondary roll is disposed above the primary roll the leading edge of paper sheet first will be passed around an idler roll 96. The sheet will be supported in movement toward the storage magazine by the surface 70.

FIG. 3 illustrates a storage magazine 22 and feeding mechanism which substantially duplicates in both structure and operation the storage magazine and feeding mechanism of- FIG. 2. Paper sheet 41 is fed by the FIG. 3 structure. I

The major difference resides in the disposition of the indexing and auxiliary feed assembly 200. To this end, the assembly including a coated index roll 90, an uncoated pinch roll 92, and clamp member 94 for moving the latter is disposed below the paper sheet storage components in the region of the assembly 78.

The paper sheet is guided by means of a pair of spaced guides 202 and 204 disposed between the assembly 200 and a fixed idler roller 206. A further fixed idler roller 208 guides the paper sheet 41 to the support surface 98.

In brief, the initial feeding of the paper sheet from either the feed sections 12 and 16 (FIG. 2) or the-paper sheet from feed sections 14 and 18 (FIG. 3)- is along a guide surface 70 to the nip of power driven feed roll set (including a roll 72 and a roll 74). Each feed roll set serves then to mechanically push the paper toward the nip of an index roll set 78 (or 200) including a roll 90 and a roll 92. By driving the latter roll pairs at a rotational speed dependent upon the rotational speed of the former roll pairs the paper sheet will feed the storage magazine with a minimum of rippling. The paper sheetv leading edge after passing the index roll set causes switch operation and disengagement of drive to the same. The storage magazine begins to fill through descent of the floating roller assembly under control of the counter balance cable to the FIG. 1 position. When each storage magazine becomes filled, with approximately 10 lineal feet of paper sheet, each floating roller assembly 50 trips a limit switch (not shown). As illustrated in FIG. 2, the floating roller assembly moves downwardly as counter balance cable 80 is fed around pulley wheels 81 and 83, the wheel 83 moving against the forces developed by counterbalance cylinder 85.

As illustrated, the end of the cable is fixed to a stationary support member of the apparatus framework. A like construction (not shown) is utilized with the FIG. 3 feed. Swith operation functions to disengage a feed roll clutch (not shown) and thereby discontinue the drive to the feed roller 72. Both switches may be actuated by a photoelectric device. A first switch is responsive to movement of paper sheet beyond the index assembly 78 (and 200) toward the carriage. A second switch is responsive to assembly descent. Assuming that each pinch roll 74 and 92 remains in the drive position the assemblies will provide counterbalance to the floating roller assembly to properly tension the paper sheet when in storage. The assemblies also maintain the paper sheet in constant tension as the paper sheet is pulled across a glass sheet.

Once the storage magazine is supplied with the predetermined lineal footage of paper sheet the apparatus will operate automatically through a multiplicity of sequences and over a period of time during which many primary and secondary rolls are changed. Upon exhaustion of the primary roll of any feed section the backup or secondary roll leading edge is joined to the trailing edge as the primary roll exhausts thereby following into the storage magazine to replace the paper sheet from the primary roll. Also, a secondary roll may be used to change the width of paper sheet by cutting of the paper sheet on the primary roll and joining in similar fashion the paper sheet from the secondary roll.

The operating components of the paper sheet indexing mechanism 200 (and 78) may be seen to best advantage in FIGS. 4 and 5. The mechanism includes a clutch 210 which provides free movement in one direction. Thus, the clutch will drive to index paper sheet pulled from the storage magazine toward the carriage arrangement and provide back stopping of the paper sheet after the leading length has been cut. In this manner, the paper sheet is not pulled back to the storage magazine because of the pulling force introduced by the floating roller assembly. The clutch is in driving engagement with the index roll which, as discussed, drives the paper sheet through interaction of the pinch roll 92. The latter is maintained in the driving disposition by clamp member 94.

The index roll 90 may be indexed by indexing clutch 210 through operation of cylinder 212 or by means of a chain 214 disposed to drive an auxiliary clutch 216.

More particularly, indexing clutch includes a pinion 218 carried at one end. A rack 220 having a length of gear teeth is disposed for intercooperation with the clutch pinion so that upon actuation ofthecylinder 212 the rack will move in one direction, thereafter to return to a rest position. The stroke of the rack determines the length of paper sheet to be driven toward the carriage on assembly 230 by index assemblies 78 and 200.

A similar operation is obtained upon drive of the index roll 90 by the auxiliary clutch 216. The latter clutch, likewise, supports a gear or pinion member upon which the chain 214 is entrained. Clutch 216 provides direct engagement between the constantly driven chain 214 and the index roll 90. The period of engagement may be momentary in order to advance an appropriate length of paper sheet.

The drive components are mounted by any convenient means to a portion of the frame structure, shown in the Figures as channel shaped member 224. The

member also provides a journel support for gear 226 movable on slot 228 for adjustment of the tension of chain 214. l

The carriage assembly 230 is illustrated to best advantage in FIG. 6. The assembly is disposed between the bed 30 and the storage magazine 21, 22 (see FIG. 1).

The assembly includes a paper stop gate 232, a lower platform construction 234, a carriage 236, and a cutter 238.

The paper stop gate 232, is adapted for movement into substantially abutting relationship with the platform 234, as illustrated in FIG. 6, and to an elevated disposition above the platform construction. In the low- I ered position the stop gate serves to clamp the paper sheet in position to permit ease in cutting.

The paper stop gate is formed by a plate member 240 or a plurality of plate' members disposed across the width of bed 30. A generally U-shaped channel 242 extends acrossthe width of bed 30. The channel is carried by the plate members 240 at the lower end and serves as a housing through which the cutter traverses upon cutting the paper sheet.

A mechanism for lifting the stop gate includes a stationary shaft 250 supporting a plurality of linear bearings 252 disposed for sliding movement thereon. A member 254 providing an arcuate groove is carried by the plate member in a manner that the extending side arms and spaced finger pairs extend around the shaft. A yoke 256 carried by a block 258 is interconnected with the arms between the fingers of the members. Rotational movement of the block about a shaft 260 by means (not shown) imparts sliding movement to the linear bearings 252. v

The platform 234 includes an upper face 262 for support of the paper sheet. The face is discontinuous in the region below the channel 242 to accommodate passage of the cutter, as will be discussed. The platform additionally includes a guide surface 264 for a rotary cutter 266 and bearing supports 268, 270 disposed between the guide surface 264 and a wall 272. Roller bearings 274 or the equivalent serve to provide ease in movement ofa cutter support arm 276. The arm 276 is movable back and forth across the bed 30 for cutting by means of a chain drive 280. The chain is supported by a base 278.

While the stop gate is in the raised position paper sheet is indexed toward the carrier 236. The carrier includes a movable member 282 which supports an upper gripping jaw 284. A lower gripping jaw 286 is supported on a member 288 likewise supported on a carrier and movable about a pivot axis for gripping and release of paper sheet. Preferably, the gripping jaws are formed of a deformable material, such as neoprene, and through a tongue and groove design thejaws are capable of gripping positively the paper sheet for movement across the bed 30. The neoprene material prevents the jaws from tearing or biting through the paper sheet. I I

After loading the paper sheet as described above and following a forward index of the same to a position at' which the leading edge is gripped, the machine is put into an automatic mode of operation. At this time glass sheet is fed by means (not shown) to the bed 30. A limit ber 288. After a slight time delay, the carriage 236 is powered across the bed to a position at which the paper sheet will cover the glass along the dimension of movement. After a further time delay the gripping jaws open as the gate 232 closes. The paper sheet may be cut by the traversing rotary cutter 266 at a rate of approximately 5 feet per second. Traverse of the rotary cutter is controlled by a variable speed drive motor (not shown) through the drive chain 280. After a cutting cycle the gate 232 moves to the raised position and the cut length of paper sheet falls by gravity onto the glass plate. The covered glass plate is conveyed away from the bed and the carriage 236 returns to the FIG. 6 disposition. The rotary cutter can cut in either direction of movement.

The carriage 236 may pull the paper sheet from the storage magazine at a rate of 120 feet per minute. At the same time and until the storage magazine is again filled, with 10 lineal feet of paper sheet, paper sheet is fed into the magazine at a rate of 29 feet per minute. The minimum cycletime of the paper interleaving machine is approximately 13.2 seconds. Accordingly, ap-

proximately four sheets of glass of 87 inch length may.

be covered per minute. In order to increase the length -of glass which may be covered at the above rate, it is only necessary to increase the feed rate of paper sheet into the magazine.

Having described the invention with particular reference to the preferred form thereof, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for covering completely a sheet of plate glass which is adapted to be conveyed to and supported by a bed with sheet material comprising a frame, said frame supporting said bed at one end, feed means mounted by said frame at a position disposed therefrom, said feed means including a plurality of feed sections each having means adapted to support said sheet material in rolls of extended length, said feed section means being disposed across the width and at at least two elevations with respect to the plane of said bed, alternate feed section means being disposed at different elevations, carriage means mounted by said frame adjacent said bed, means on said carriage means for gripping a leading end of said sheet material, magazine means associated with each feed section for storing a continuous length of sheet material, means for indexing sheet material from selected rolls to said carriage means, and means for driving said carriage and selected lengths of sheet material across said bed as said selected magazine is resupplied with sheet material.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said feed section means in one elevation accommodates rolls of sheet material having a width greater than the width of sheet material in an adjacent feed section.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each feed section includes at least one secondary roll of sheet material.

4. The apparatus of-claim 1 wherein each said magazine means comprises a support member, a first plurality of idler rollers, said first idler rollers having their axes disposed in a plane, means mounting said idler rollers in equidistantly spaced relation on said member, a

second plurality of idler rollers having their axes disposed in a plane, said second idler rollers mounted by said frame, means for moving'said support to a position at which said sheet material may be passed between said idler roller pluralities, and means responsive to movement of sheet material through said magazine to release said support for movement to a second position.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said frame idler rollers and said mounting means form a substantially continuous support surface for said sheet material.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 including a first pair of rollers, means mounting said rollers on said frame, said drive means connected to one of said rollers, means for moving the other of said rollers into and out of driven engagement,'said first roller pair disposed for moving said sheet material through the nip of the same and into said magazine.

7. The apparatus of claim .4 including a second pair of rollers, means mounting said rollers on said frame, said indexing means connected to one of said rollers, means for moving the other of said rollers into and out of driven engagement, said second roller pair disposed for indexing from said magazine a length of sheet material to said carriage means.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 including means responsive to movement of said support member for disengaging said drive means when said support member reaches said second position.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 including a pair of jaw members, one of said members being fixedly mounted on said carriage, and means mounting the other jaw member on said carriage for pivotal intercooperation with said one jaw member to grip said leading end of sheet material indexed thereto.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 865'); Dated Februarv 1.1. 1975 Inventor(s) Robert F. Alverson It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In Column 2, line 22 "paper shhet" should read paper sheet--.

In Column 2, line 43 "skilled in the are" should read --skilled in the art-.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of April 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks =ORM PO-1050 (10-69) uscoMM-Dc wan-P69 U.S. GOVIRNNINI' PRINTING OFFICE "I! 0-366-334. 

1. Apparatus for covering completely a sheet of plate glass which is adapted to be conveyed to and supported by a bed with sheet material comprising a frame, said frame supporting said bed at one end, feed means mounted by said frame at a position disposed therefrom, said feed means including a plurality of feed sections each having means adapted to support said sheet material in rolls of extended length, said feed section means being disposed across the width and at at least two elevations with respect to the plane of said bed, alternate feed section means being disposed at different elevations, carriage means mounted by said frame adjacent said bed, means on said carriage means for gripping a leading end of said sheet material, magazine means associated with each feed section for storing a continuous length of sheet material, means for indexing sheet material from selected rolls to said carriage means, and means for driving said carriage and selected lengths of sheet material across said bed as said selected magazine is resupplied wiTh sheet material.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said feed section means in one elevation accommodates rolls of sheet material having a width greater than the width of sheet material in an adjacent feed section.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each feed section includes at least one secondary roll of sheet material.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said magazine means comprises a support member, a first plurality of idler rollers, said first idler rollers having their axes disposed in a plane, means mounting said idler rollers in equidistantly spaced relation on said member, a second plurality of idler rollers having their axes disposed in a plane, said second idler rollers mounted by said frame, means for moving said support to a position at which said sheet material may be passed between said idler roller pluralities, and means responsive to movement of sheet material through said magazine to release said support for movement to a second position.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said frame idler rollers and said mounting means form a substantially continuous support surface for said sheet material.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 including a first pair of rollers, means mounting said rollers on said frame, said drive means connected to one of said rollers, means for moving the other of said rollers into and out of driven engagement, said first roller pair disposed for moving said sheet material through the nip of the same and into said magazine.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4 including a second pair of rollers, means mounting said rollers on said frame, said indexing means connected to one of said rollers, means for moving the other of said rollers into and out of driven engagement, said second roller pair disposed for indexing from said magazine a length of sheet material to said carriage means.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6 including means responsive to movement of said support member for disengaging said drive means when said support member reaches said second position.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7 including a pair of jaw members, one of said members being fixedly mounted on said carriage, and means mounting the other jaw member on said carriage for pivotal intercooperation with said one jaw member to grip said leading end of sheet material indexed thereto. 